Evaluation of mulching material and variety on growth, yield and pest tuber damage of sweet potato (Ipomoea Batatus) under rain-fed conditions
- Author
- Pfekenye, Donald
- Title
- Evaluation of mulching material and variety on growth, yield and pest tuber damage of sweet potato (Ipomoea Batatus) under rain-fed conditions
- Abstract
- Poor rainfall distribution, high temperatures, pests’ outbreak among others are major threat to sweet potato production especially to small holder farmers who rely on rainfed. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plastic mulch and organic mulch on two sweet potato varieties under rain-fed conditions. The main objective was to evaluate the effect of plastic mulch and organic mulch on plant growth, tuber yield and tuber pest damage of two sweet potato varieties. The field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) as 2x3 factorial treatment structure with 6 treatments replicated 5 times. There were two factors: variety and mulch. The varieties were, Kakamega (intermediate orange fleshed sweet potato) and German II (white fleshed sweet potato). Mulches used were black polythene plastic and grass as organic mulch. The experiment was carried out in Buhera District. Growth parameters data was collected at 4 weeks after planting (WAP), 8WAP, 12WAP and 16WAP. Yield and pest damage data was collected at harvesting (16 WAP). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done using GENSTAT Discovery 3rd Edition. The results showed that plastic mulch have a positive impact on vine branching, number of leaves produced and vine length. On survived plants, it had a negative effect while organic mulch and control performed very well on sustaining plant life. Kakamega variety had a greater number of leaves, more branches and longest vine length than German II. There was no significant difference (p>0.005) in tuber yield (t/ha), but there was significant difference (p=0.011) in number of tubers produced. There was no interaction effect of mulching material and variety on yield. There was no significant effect of variety on yield parameters. Organic mulch had highest number of tubers produced. Mulching material effect on tuber pest damage was highly significant (p<0.001), with organic mulch having highest number of tubers damaged and plastic mulch having the least. There was no interaction effect of mulching material and variety on tuber damage by pests (p>0.05). There was also no significant effect of variety on tuber damage (p>0.05). Overall results indicate that mulching material has its own advantages and disadvantages, but plastic mulch had more positive impacts as a mulching material. Farmers are recommended to use plastic mulch if they have problems of soil pests and if they want big sized tubers or use organic mulch with pest repellent effect if they want a greater number of tubers but in small sizes. The researcher advises researchers to have further research on the best time to apply plastic mulch soon after planting to minimize desiccation of sweet potato vine at the initial plant growth stages.
- Date
- July 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Evaluation of mulching
- Ipomoea Batatus
- Pest tuber damage
- Supervisor
- Mr. Chitamba
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
